There was delight for West Ham but despair for Everton after a transfer update on Juventus outcast Aaron Ramsey.
West Ham are flying this season but the same cannot be said for Everton. Both the Hammers and the Toffees need reinforcements for different reasons in the January window.
David Moyes and Rafa Benitez will have the chance to add to their squads soon enough.
West Ham have been heavily linked with a move for Juventus midfield playmaker and former Arsenal star Ramsey for some time (Calcio Mercato).
He remained at Juve beyond the summer but has made just two appearances for the Serie A giants this season and only one start.
Earlier this season The Sun claimed Moyes – as well as his old club Everton – want the Welshman in January.
Everton managed to give their season a kickstart with a win over Arsenal and Benitez will want to add to his options next month.
But while former Cardiff City man Ramsey is undoubtedly a top class player on his day, those days are becoming far too infrequent.
Ramsey has a questionable injury record and is picking up eye-watering wages following his free transfer move to Juve back in 2019.
The midfielder turns 31 on Boxing Day and certainly does not fit the profile of player Moyes has made clear he is looking to bring to West Ham.
Everton – with the likes of Salomon Rondon and other ageing stars in their ranks – don’t appear to have an identity or structure when it comes to recruitment.
In fact Everton’s scattergun, incoherent approach to transfers is somewhat reminiscent of the West Ham of old before Moyes returned for a second spell at the club.
The Scot has repeatedly said he wants to build his new-look West Ham around young, talented, energetic players hungry to prove themselves at the top level.
West Ham fans were dead against a move for Ramsey when he was being linked earlier this year.
Delight for West Ham but despair for Everton after transfer update on Juventus outcast Aaron Ramsey
Many questioned why Moyes would abandon a transfer strategy that had served the Hammers so well over the last two years.
Everton fans will surely feel the same about signing another injury-prone player the wrong side of 30 with his best days behind him on extortionate wages.
So there was delight for West Ham but despair for Everton after reports emerged last night that the Toffees have initiated contact with Juventus and are in the box seat to sign Ramsey.
According to a host of sources including Calciomercato and The Sun to name but two, Ramsey is one of the players Benitez wants to bring to Everton after stating that he now has much more power over the club’s transfer activity following the departure of director of football Marcel Brands.
West Ham fans who have been dead against signing Ramsey will be thrilled to see there is no mention of the Hammers.
Bizarrely The Sun reports that Everton may look to sign Ramsey to ‘keep the fans onside’.
Perhaps that illustrates better than anything else why Toffees fans are so disgruntled with the way the club is being operated under Farhad Moshiri.